Dough-twisting apparatus



Jan. 26, 1965 R. R. KEY 3,167,157

DOUGH-TWISTING APPARATUS Criginal Filed Jan. 3 1961 8 Sheets-Shee t l lA/l/EA/TOE Roy R. KEY

Jan. 26, 1965 R. R. KEY 3,167,167

DOUGH-TWISTING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 3, 1961 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 26, 1965 RR. KEY

DOUGH-TWISTING APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Criginal Filed Jan. 5, 1961 l/V 145N702 Pay A. KEY

BY HIS A 7709/ /15 K5 Jan. 26, 1965 R. R. KEY 3,167,167

DOUGH-TWISTING APPARATUS 15) HIS A TTOE'A/EKS Jan. 26, 1965 R. R. KEY

DO'UGH-TWISTING APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Jan. 3, 1961 NW 3 R lNl/EA/TOE Roy R. KEY

BY 11/5 4 77'0ENEY5 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Criginal Filed Jan. 5, 1961 INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Jan. 26, 1965 R. R. KEY 3,167,167

DOUGH-TWISTING APPARATUS Criginal Filed Jan- 3, 1961 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 INV EN TOR.

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A T TOEA/E Y5.

Jan. 26, 1965 R. R. KEY

DOUGHTWISTING APPARATUS Criginal Filed Jan. 5, 1961 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 z 1 2 4b GO 303 SOLENOID PRESSURE EXHAUST SOLENOID PRESSURE EXHAUST IN VENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS,

, The present invention relates generally to the bakery art and more particularly to novel apparatus for twisting two dough pieces together prior to baking. The present application is a divisional application of the copending application of Roy R. Key for Dough-Twisting Machine, Serial No. 80,487, filed January 3, 1961, now Patent No. 3,027,852, granted April 3, i962. Application Serial No. 80,487 is in turn a continuation'in-part of the application of Roy R.Key for Dough-Twisting Machine, Serial No. 847,016, filed October 16, 1959 (now abandoned).

It has been known for some time that bread which is made from lengths of rolled dough which have been twisted together prior to baking has many advantages over conventional bread, including finer texture and improved keeping qualities. i-lowever, one decided disadvantage of the twisted bread is that it is more expensive to produce than conventional bread because of the extra labor involved in manually twisting the bread by hand prior to positioning it in the baking pans.

In accordance with the present invention, two elongated dough pieces are deposited in side-by-side relationship upon an arcuately moving carrier, the dough pieces being disposed substantially radially relative to the center of rotation of the carrier. These dough pieces are carried beneath a flexible blanket member of substantial weight and having a substantial extent in the direction of dough travel. The flexible blanket member engages the leading edge of the pair of dough pieces to apply a retarding pressure to the advancement of the dough pieces and at the same time the flexible blanket applies an ap preciable downward pressure on the dough pieces. The combination of these two pressures causes the forward dough piece to be retarded and the outer end of the piece lifted while the radially outer end of the rearward dough piece is carried beneath the forward dough piece. Thus, a twisting action is initiated at the faster moving, radially outer ends of the dough pieces. Then, as the lowermost dough piece becomes advanced beyond the upper dough piece, the blanket engages and retards the outermost end of the lower dough piece so that this end is lifted and the end of the dough piece previously on top is twisted around beneath it. This action continues until both pieces of dough are tightly twisted together through out their lengths. At the same time that the dough pieces are being twisted, however, the dough pieces undergo an appreciable elongation; for example, an elongation of two inches in fourteen. Also, each of the dough pieces is helically coiled about its own longitudinal axis.

It has been empirically determined that dough pieces twisted in this manner produce bread of liner texture than bread produced by either conventional straight-away or cross grain molding or by manual twisting. The improved texture is due at least in part to the fact that the dough pieces twisted in accordance with the present invention are not only twisted about one another as in a conventional manually twisted loaf, but additionally each of the individual dough pieces is twisted about its own axis.

One important object of the present invention is to rovide a novel machine for automatically twisting bread in accordance with the present method. The said novel dough twisting machine is effective to receive elongated pieces of dough, for example, coiled strips of dough as United States PatentO they are discharged from beneath a conventional curling chain, in random spacing and to group these elongated strips of dough in pairs. The present machine is further effective to automatically twist each pair'of dough pieces together while at the same time twisting each of the in dividual pieces about its own axis and effecting an elongation of the pieces. The present machine then applies a setting pressure to the twisted dough piecesto prevent their subsequent untwisting. Finally the machine deposits the twisted and set dough pieces into a baking pan.

The present machine for twisting dough is not only instrumental in producing bread of improved quality but also is highly advantageous since it is effective to automatically twist dough pieces at a high production rate, for example 46 to 60 loaves per minute. Moreover, each of the leaves twisted utilizing the present apparatus is substantially uniform irrespective of the rate at which the loaves are twisted.

The present twisting machine includes a novel accumulating and feeding mechanism which receives pieces of dough in random spaced-apart relationship and which automatically and continuously groups them in pairs and discharges them onto a belt of the twisting mechanism in a side-by-side relationship. This accumulating mechanism is automatically actuated by the pieces of dough fed to it, and is effective to quickly and continuously group the pieces in pairs and deposit them onto the belt of the twisting machine in a predetermined position, as quickly as they enter the mechanism.

in essence, the present accumulator comprises a chute or other trough-like member adapted to hold two horizontally disposed dough pieces, the dough pieces being disposed one above the other. The trough includes a bottom member having associated therewith power operated means for rapidly shifting the bottom member to a position in which the dough pieces drop downwardly from the trough. The control for this operator includes a main actuating switch in circuit controlling connection with the operator together with means for conditioning this switch when a first dough piece enters the trough so that as a second dough piece enters the trough the switch is closed to energize the operator and open the trough bottom whereby the pair of dough pieces is discharged in side-by-side relationship onto a twisting belt.

The present machine further comprises a twisting mech anisrn which receives the elongated pieces of dough in paired side-by-side relationship from the accumulator and automatically and continuously twists them together, while at the same time helically twisting each piece.

The twisting mechanism includes a suitable platform such as a semi-circular belt moving on an arcuate path in a substantially horizontal plane and containing a feed station and discharge station. At the feed station, dough pieces are deposited by the accumulator onto the belt in a side-by-side relationship so as to extend substantially radially of the movement of the belt, the dough pieces having innerand outer ends. A relatively heavy stationary blanket-like member, overlies the belt between the feed station and the discharge station, the leading edge of the blanket-like member being elevated so that the rolls of dough can pass between it and the belt.

The blanket member is flexible, is of substantial weight, and has an extent parallel to the direction of movement of the belt. This blanket member thus generally conforms to the shape of the dough pieces passing beneath it, i.e., it droops in front of and behind the dough pieces and is thus effective to apply both a retarding force on the leading portions of the dough pieces and a downward pressure force on the top surface of the dough pieces.

lines.

verse to their line of movement, i.e., flexible on a radial line. Thus, the preferred form of belt is not only effective to droop in front of and behind the dough pieces, but also is effective to droop at the sides; and consequently is effective to provide maximum surface contact with the dough pieces.

One of the most important advantages of the present flexible blanket member is that it engages each pair of dough pieces in exactly the same manner and over a maximum area of the dough piece so that each pair of dough pieces is twisted in exactly the same manner whether the machine is producing at a low rate so that only one pair of dough pieces underlies the blanket at a time or whether the machine is producing at a high rate so that perhaps four pairs .of dough pieces underlie the blanket simultaneously.

In detail, a preferred form of blanket is formed of metal chain links. One group of these chain links is connected to form a plurality of concentric arcuate rows extending parallel to the direction of dough movement. Other links interconnect these rows also generally radial These links have substantially universal freedom of movement relative to one another so that maximum flexibility is provided. Because the blanket-like member engages the upper surfaces and leading portions of the rolls and therefore retards the movement thereof, and because the outer ends of the rolls normally move at a faster rate than the inner ends, the outer ends are retarded at a faster rate than the inner ends so as to cause a twisting together of the rolls.

The-present twister mechanism is effective to apply a much tighter twist to the dough pieces than is applied during manual operation. The present invention further ,contemplates the provision of a setting mechanism for receiving the twisted dough pieces and applying a con- 'tinuous pressure to these dough pieces for an appreciable length of time, e.g., three to four seconds. This pressure is effective to set the two twisted dough pieces together to prevent their subsequent untwisting in the baking pan. In the present apparatus, this setting mechanism comprises two belts having parallel runs spaced apart a lesser distance than the cross sectional dimension of the twisted dough pieces. After the twisting, the dough pieces are passed between these parallel belt runs which are advanced at a speed so that the belts apply setting pressure to the twisted dough pieces for several seconds.

The final component of the present apparatus is a panning mechanism which receives the twisted dough pieces'from the pressure belts and deposits them into pans carried beneath the panning mechanism on a suitable conveyor. As will readily be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the panning of twisted dough pieces presents unique problems not present in the panning of conventional'bread. 'Thus, it is not only necessary in panning twisted bread to deposit the dough pieces accurately in the pans, but it is also necessary to drop the dough pieces into'the pans without untwisting the dough. The present panner accomplishes this by depositing the dough pieces on a'reci'procating carriage member having two flaps. As the carriage member is shifted in the direction of dough travel at the same speed as the setting belts, the

.dough'pieces are dropped from the setting belts onto the flaps. opposite directions to drop the dough into a pan held These flaps are then shifted rapidly linearly in beneath the flaps. The dough pieces drop downwardly 'into'the pan withoutany tendency to untwist.

' These and other objects, features and advantages will be more readily apparent from a consideration of the on the line 22 of FIGURE 1 showing the roll-accumulating and feeding mechanism in elevation;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 (taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 4) showing the roll-accumulating and feeding mechanism in cross section;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view of the front of the roll-accumulating and feeding mechanism taken on the line i-4 of FIGURE 2;

"IGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG- URE 3 but showing the paired rolls of dough being fed to the twisting mechanism;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIGURE 1 showing the paired dough rolls starting to pass under the blanket-like member;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken on the line 7'7 of FIGURE 1 showing the manner in which the blanket-like member drapes over the rolls of dough;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the preferred blanket-like member;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view taken on the line 99 of FIGURE 7 showing the man ner in which the fabric belt is connected to the driving chain;

FIGURE 10 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 1tl10 in FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged side elevational view taken on the line 1111 in FIGURE 1 showing the roll-receiving and dispensing mechanism;

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 12l2 in FIGURE 1 showing the internal construction of the roll-receiving and dispensing mechamsm;

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 1313 in FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 14-14 in FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 15 is an elevational view (partially in section) showing one of the roller assemblies which supports the dough-twisting belt;

FIGURE 16 is a View similar to FIGURE 2 showing a modified roll-accumulating and feeding mechanism;

FIGURE 17 is a partly sectional view similar to'FIG- URE 3 of the modified roll accumulating and feeding mechanism of FIGURE 16;

FIGURE 18 is a top plan view of a twisted loaf produced in accordance with the present method;

FIGURE 19 is an enlarged perspective view of a modified form of blanket chain;

FIGURE 20 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical and hydraulic connections for the roll accumulating and feeding mechanism disclosed in FIGURES 25; and

FIGURE 21 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical and hydraulic circuits of the roll feeding and accumulating mechanism shown in FIGURES l6 and 17.

The general construction of one preferred form of dough-twisting machine 16 embodying the teachings of the present invention is best shown in FIGURE 1. The device includes a roll-accumulating and feeding mechanism 13 which receives rolls of dough in spaced relationship and accumulates them in pairs and feeds them to a twisting mechanism 20 in side-by-side relationship, and a roll-receiving and dispensing mechanism 22 which receives the twisted rolls and deposits them in baking pans which are then conveyed to the proof box.

As shown in FIGURE 1, rolls 24- of dough which have previously been sheeted and curled in any suitable manner are deposited in irregular spaced relationship on an endless conveyor 26 (by means not shown) which moves them to the roll-accumulating and feeding mechanism 18, the conveyor 26 passing around a roller 28 (FIGURES 2 and 3) immediately adjacent said mechanism. The roll-accumulating and feeding mechanism 18 includes spaced arms 29 for supporting a rear apron 3i) which contains upper and lower elongated horizontal openings 32.

grams? and 34 respectively (FIGURE 4), the upper edge of the apron being adjacent the roller 28. Pivotally mounted in the upper opening 32 is an upper trigger plate 36 (FIG- URE 3) which contains a lever arm 33 which is restrained by a spring 4%. A similar pivotally mounted lower trigger plate 42 is positioned in the lower opening 34, said lower trigger plate including an arm 4-4 which is restrained by a spring 46 and which carries a first switch member 48. Pivotally mounted on the arms 29 are actuating members 5t) (FIGURE 2) which carry a trough plate 52, the members 5% being actuated by a hydraulic cylinder 54 having one end thereof pivotally connected to an upright support 56 through a bracket 5%. As shown in FIGURES 3 and 5, a second switch member oil is mounted on the support as and is contacted by the trough plate 52 when the latter and the actuating members 5d are moved to a feeding position (FIGURE 5).

As is shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 20, in accordance with one well known electro-hydraulic circuit, cylinder 54 includes a double acting piston, the cylinder being provided with ports adjacent either end of the cylinder. These ports are connected to pressure and exhaust sources through a solenoid operated valve 3%. The electrical solenoid of this valve is adapted to be energized through series connected switches 48 and d6. When e switches are open, the cylinder 57 is connected to pressure and exhaust as shown in FIGURE so that the piston is urged to its lowermost position. However, when both the switches are closed and the solenoid is energized, valve 3% is shifted to connect the pressure source a beneath the piston in cylinder 54 to raise the piston and shift the trough plate to its open position.

In the receiving position (FIGURES 2 and 3), the position of the piston of hydraulic cylinder 5 is such that the trough plate 52 is at right angles to the apron 3% so as to receive and support rolls of dough 24 which are discharged from the end of the conveyor When the first roll of dough 2-drolls down the apron 3t) and contacts the trough plate 52, the roll bears against the lower trigger plate 42 and causes the arm 44 and first switch member 48 to move against the action of the spring d6 so as to position the switch member 48 immediately adjacent the upper trigger plate 36. Consequently, when a sec ond roll of dough rolls down the apron 3%, it causes the upper trigger plate 36 to move against the action of the spring 41) and actuates the first switch member 48. This actuates the hydraulic cylinder 54 and causes it to pivot the actuating members 50 and the trough plate 52 to the feeding position shown in FIGURE 5 in which the pair of dough rolls is discharged onto the twisting mechanism in a side-by-side relationship. In this feeding or discharge position, the trough plate 52. engages and actuates the second switch 66 which then causes the hydraulic cylinder 54 to return the actuating members 5% and the trough plate 52 to the receiving position (FIGURES 2 and 3) in time to receive the first roll of the next pair of dough rolls.

Turning to a consideration of the twisting mechanism 259, which is the heart of the device, it includes an annular belt as of fabric or like material which has an outer edge 64 and an inner edge 66 (FIGURE 7) and which is supported in a manner to provide an endless conveyor of semicircular configuration which moves in an arcuate path (FIGURE 1). A center post as (FIGURE 1) sup ports a tubular shaft 7% which extends transversely of the device between the feeding mechanism 18 and the dispensing mechanism 22 and which rotatabiy supports a plurality of individual rollers 72 (FIGURE 15) in sideby-side spaced relationship. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 7, the belt -62 rides around and is supported on the rollers 72. Supported adjacent the shaft 7t) is a horiz0n tally extending bed plate 74 of semicircular configuration which has the flat or inner edge thereof parallel to the shaft, and the outer edge supported on a curved plate member 7s (FIGURE 7). A lower chain guide channel 6 '73 is supported on the inner surface of the curved plate member 76 and extending outwardly from the outer surface thereof are brackets 3t which support an upper chain guide channel 82, the latter including an outer plate member 84- for a purpose to appear. Positioned in the aforementioned chain guides is a continuous sprocket chain which contains integrally formed spaced clips 88 (FIGURES 9 and 10) which support coiled springs 90 having the inner ends thereof connected to brackets 92. The brackets 92 comprise plates which are fastened to the belt d2 adjacent the outer edge 64.

As shown in FIGURE 1, a structural channel member extends transversely of the device beneath the shaft 763 and has opposed ends and 96. Mounted on the upper surface of the end 94 are spaced journal members 98 which rotatably support a shaft lltltl having an idler sprocket gear 132 mounted on the inner end thereof. Mounted on the upper surface of the end as are similar journal members 1% which rotatably support a drive shaft 1% having a driven sprocket gear 1% (FIGURES 11 and 12) mounted on the inner end thereof, the shaft res being driven through a chain MP9 from a power source not shown. Thus, it will be readily apparent from the foregoing description that the belt 62 passes around the rollers 72 on the shaft 7% with the upper portion thereof sliding on the bed plate 74 and with the outer edge carried by the sprocket chain 86 traveling in the channels 73 and 32. One loop of the chain passes around the idler sprocket gear 1% and the other loop passes around the drive sprocket 168, whereby the sprocket chain and the belt 62 are driven together and function as an endless conveyor.

As best shown in FIGURES l and 7, in one preferred embodiment the inner edge as and the outer edge 64 of the bottom portion of the belt 62 are displaced inwardly of the respective inner and outer edges of the upper portion of the belt which rests on the bed plate '74, i.e., when viewed on the line 77 in FIGURE 1. However, it will be noted that they are in vertical alignment as they pass over the rollers 72 on the shaft 70. In short, the upper portion of the belt is slightly greater than a half circle, and therefore the lower portion is less than a half circle because the transversely extending center line of the belt, so to speak, is on top and coincides with the center line of the shaft '79 instead of the side edge. The reason for this is as follows: As mentioned previously, two rolls 24 of dough in side-by-side relationship are discharged onto the upper surface of the belt 62 from the accumulating and feeding mechanism 13 (FIGURE 5). Thereafter, they are carried around on the upper portion of the moving belt 62. Inasmuch as it is advisable to maintain the rolls on a moving line which extends radially of the movement of the belt, it is necessary to feed the rolls onto the belt in a radial position, or actually at the aforementioned imaginary transversely extending center line of the belt. Consequently, the transversely extending center line of the belt 62 (which is the center line of the shaft 76) is spaced away from the curved inner edge of the belt which passes around the rollers 72 and is immediately under the discharge end of the accumulating and feeding mechanism It It will be understood, however, that in many embodiments it is not absolutely essential that the dough pieces be deposited accurately on a radius. In such installations the upper and lower belt runs can be vertically aligned and the dough pieces deposited from the accumulator slightly offset from a true radius.

As previously mentioned, the upper chain guide channel 82 (FIGURE 7) includes an outer plate member 84-. Mounted on top of said plate member 84 is a curved angle member 1143 (FIGURES 1, 6 and 7) which extends from the three-oclock position adjacent the drive shaft 1% to about the ten-oclock position. As shown in FIGURE 6, a clip 1112 is mounted adjacent the one end of the angle member 11d and supports a rod 114 which extends inwardly above the upper surface of the belt 62 (FIGURE 1) and which has the inner end thereof supported on a bracket 116 mounted on the bed plate 7 adjacent the center post 68. One side of a flexible, relatively heavy, blanket member 118 (which is preferably made from chain links, as will be described more fully hereinafter) is fastened to the rod 114 by rings 1% and the outer peripheral edge of the blanket member 113 is fastened to the angle member 11% by means of hooks 122. inner peripheral edge of the blanket member 113 is unsupported and the other side edge thereof is fastened to a rod 124 (FIGURE 12) which is positioned above the belt 62 and which is supported in the receiving and dispensing mechanism 22. The eifective length of blanket 118 can be varied by means of a rod 299. This rod underlies the chain and is pivotally mounted at its inner end as at 291. The outer end of rod 2% carries a bracket 292 which rests upon and is adjustably clamped to angle member 119.

The blanket member 118 overlies and is su ported on the upper surface of the belt 62 (FIGURE 6) and is preferably formed from interlocking cireumferentially extending chain links 126 and radially extending chain links 123 (FIGURE 8), the latter including depending bight-like portions 131) for engaging the rolls 24 of dough. Thus, as the side-by-side rolls 2d are carried by the belt 62 under the rod 114 (FIGURE 6), depending bight portions 13% of the blanket member 113 engage the upper surfaces and leading portions of the rolls. This causes a drag or retarding action .on the leading roll and tends to hold it stationary while the following roll starts to pass beneath it. However, because the outer end of the following roll is at a greater distance than the inner end from the center of the moving belt 62,, and therefore moves faster than the inner end, the outer end of the following roll will tend to move under the outer end of the retarded leading roll at a faster rate than the inner end of the following roll moves under the inner end of the retarded leading roll, whereby the rolls start to twist together. Each time the leading portion of one of the rolls comes in contact with the radially extending links 128, it is retarded and the following portion of a roll tends to pass under it. Because the outer ends of the rolls normally move faster than the inner ends thereof and the retarding means, i.e., the blanket member 118, is stationary, the outer ends of the rolls will be turned over faster than the inner ends thereof so as to cause the rolls to be twisted together. Gbviously, the number of twists depend on the arcuate length of the blanket member 1113, or, stated differently, the distance the rolls travel in contact with the blanket member. The bight portions 11% of the radially extending links are relatively smooth and therefore gently hold the leading portions of the rolls without tearing or adversely atlecting the dough. Also, because the blanket member 118 overlies the entire rolls, there is no distort-ion or differential stretching of a portion of a roll.

infrequently the twisted dough rolls have a tendency to creep outwardly of the belt 62. If this clitliculty is encountered, it can be remedied by providing adjustable guide members to maintain the rolls in a predetermined radial position. Suitable guide means are shown in FIG- URES 1 and 7 as inner 1132 and outer 134 arcuate strips which are positioned above the belt 62 and which are adjustable both radially and circumferentially, the outer strip 134 being supported on the arcuate plate and the inner strip 132 being supported on the bed plate 7d adjacent the center post 68. It is to be understood, hm ever, that these guide members are not normally required and can be omitted from the machine if desired.

After the rolls 24 are twisted together (hereinafter identified by the letter R), they pass from under the trailing edge of the blanket member 118, and enter into the receiving and dispensing mechanism 22 (EZGURES 11 through 14) which sets the twist in the rolls and discharges them into pans which are then conveyed to "the proof box. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 12, a continuous divided conveyor 136 passes beneath the aforementioned mechanism 22 and supported thereon in spaced relationship are baking pans 1133.

The receiving and dispensing mechanism 22 contains two, outer, spaced-apart vertically extending plates Mil w ch are connected together at one end by an end wall and which support the equipment which presses a set into the twisted rolls R immediately after they leave the belt 62. As shown in FIGURES 11. and 12, an inner lower roller 142 and an outer lower roller 144 are rotatably supported between the plates 1% on shafts 146 and 148, respectively, the inner lower shaft res containing a sprocket gear 15d at one end thereof externally of the respective outer plate 14d. A lower belt 152 is mounted on the rollers 142 and 144-311(1 passes over a lower backing plate which extends transversely between the outer supporting plates 14%. Two parallel slots 1156 are provided in each of the outer plates Mall, and mounted on the outer surfaces of the plates 149 adjacent each of the slots 1% is a guide assembly 153 which slidably supports a trunnion plate containing a nut 161. An inner upper roller 162 and an outer upper roller 164 are rotatably supported on opposed trunnion plates soil by means of shafts 5.66 and 1555, respectively, the shaft 166 containing a sprocket gear 1'70 ex-ernally of tne outer plate 14h (Fl RE 11). An upper belt 172. is mounted on the rollers 162 and and passes under an upper backing plate 1'74. Also mounted on the outer surfaces of. the outer plates Mil in association with each guide assembly 158 is an elongated screw nirneber 1%, one of which extends upwardly above the top of the outer plate Md and which is provided with a handle member 178. The lower end of each screw member 176 is in engagement with a nut 1, and the upper end of each is provided with a sprocket gear 1%. As shown in FIGURE 1, a sprocket chain 182 is wound around the four gears 13d and two idler gears 134 whereby, when the handle 11??) is rotated, all of the gears 1S0 rotate in unison. Thus, when the gears 18% are rotated, the screws 176 rotate within the nuts 1621 and raise and lower the trunnion plates 169, the upper rollers 162 and lo t, and the upper belt 172. As shown in FEGURE 11, a drive sprocket gear (driven by means not shown) is mounted on one of the outer plates Mill, and drives a sprocket chain 188 which is in engagement with the gears 156) and 17d and two idler gears 19!) and 192, the gear 192 being carried by a pivctally mounted arm 1% which tensions the chain 183 through the action of a spring 1% connected to the arm Consequently, it will be readily apparent that when the twisted rolls R pass from under the blanket member 118 and off the inner end of the conveyor belt 62 (FlGURE 12), they pass downwardly between the moving upper and lower belts 1'72 and 152, respectively, whicl sets the twists in the rolls because the space between the belts is less than the thickness of the rolls. if the thickness or diameter of the dough rolls is changed, the distance between the upper and lower belts can be easily and quickly adjusted accordingly by merely rotating the handle member 373 as previously described.

When the twisted rolls R leave the lower ends of the moving belts 1'72 and 152, they engage a pivotally mounted switch plate 198 which is restrained by a spring 2%. When moved by the rolls R, the switch plate closes a first switch 202 which causes the movement of a carriage identified generally by the numeral 203, and which results in the twisted rolls R being deposited in the baking pans 138.

As shown in FIGURES 11 and 14, each outer plate 149 is provided with two aligned horizontal slots 264 adjacent the lower edge thereof. Rollers 296 are positioned in the slots 2% so as to support the carriage 203 which includes spaced-apart inner plates 258 (FIGURE 13) which are fastened together by means of transversely extending end plates 211i) and 2.12 of inverted Lshape (FIGURE 12). A bracket 214 extends upwardly from the upper surface of the end plate 210 and is connected to the shaft 216 of a hydraulic actuating cylinder 218 which is pivotally mounted on the end wall 14-1. by means of a bracket 22%. A second switch 222 is mounted on the hydraulic actuating cylinder 218. Also mounted on the end Wall 141 is a hydraulic check cylinder 224 which in cludes a shaft 226 fastened to the end plate 21%. Thus, when the plate 193 closes the first switch 262, the hydraulic actuating cylinder 238 causes the carriage 203 to move in the leftward direction at the same speed as the ct belts 152 and 172 (against the action of the check cylinder 224) until the upper portion of the bracket 214 engages and closes the second switch 222. This causes the movement of other components of the carriage 263, which will now be described.

As shown in FIGURES 13 and 14, the inner plates 268 of the carriage 2&3 are provided with opposed grooves 228 adjacent the bottom edge thereof. Slidably positioned in these grooves are doors 2% and 232 which extend transversely of the carriage and which are shown in the substantially abutting or closed position in FIGURE 12. Also extending transversely of the carriage adjacent each end thereof are shafts 234 which are rotatably mounted in the inner plates 268 and which have sprocket gears 236 adjacent each end thereof inwardly of said inner plates 2%. A sprocket chain 238 extends around each pair of gears 236 on each side of the carriage so that both shafts 234 and both chains 238 move together. Mounted on the door 232 on each side thereof are upwardly extending arms 2% (FIGURES 12 and 13) which are fastened to the lower portion of each chain 238. Arms 242 are mounted on the door 234) in like manner and are connected to the upper portions of the sprocket chains 238, one of said arms on one side extending above the chain and being connected to the shaft 244 of a hydraulic actuating cylinder 246 which is mounted on the end plate 210. Thus, when the second switch 222 is closed, the hydraulic actuating cylinder 246 moves the shaft 244 leftwardly, causing the tops of the chains 238 to move to the left and the bottoms of the chains to move to the right. Because the door 230 is connected to the upper portions of the chains and the door 232 is connected to the lower portions thereof, the movement of the shaft 244 to the left causes the doors to move to a spaced-apart or open position.

Considering the complete dispensing operation from the time when the twisted rolls R leave the belt 62 and the blanket member 1118, they first pass downwardly between the opposed belts 1.52 and 172 which sets the twist in the rolls as previously described. When the leading portion of the twisted rolls R causes movement of the switch plate 198, the latter closes the first switch 2632 which causes the hydraulic actuating cylinder 2113 to move the carriage 2% to the left at a speed which coincides with the speed of the set belts 152 and 172.

Thus, the doors 23d and 232 which are normally in the closed position are moved together under the twisted rolls R as the latter leaves the belts, whereby the rolls R fall in a flattened condition across a gap A between the two doors. When the upper portion of the bracket 2114' engages and closes the second switch 222, the hydraulic actuating cylinder 246 causes a sudden movement of the chains 238 relative to the carriage 293, whereby the doors 230 and 232 jerk apart and drop the twisted rolls R downwardly into a pan 133 maintained in a predetermined position on the moving conveyor 136 by means which will now be described.

As shown in FIGURE 12, a retractable arm 2423 extends upwardly between the two parallel portions of the divided conveyor 136 so as to engage and restrain a pan 133 in position under the doors 2% and 232 at the point where theyijerk apart. The arm 248 is actuated by a hydraulic cylinder (not shown) which is controlled by a third switch 250 mounted on the upper portion of the end plate 216, which is alternatively opened and closed by a contact plate 252 fastened to the shaft 244. Consequently, in the normal or inoperative position, the switch 25% is open and the arm 24% is in the extended position. However, when the doors 230 and 232 are jerked apart to discharge the rolls R, the same movement closes the third switch 25-?) so as to cause the arm 24% to retract and perunit the pan containing the rolls R to move to the proof room.

Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided a novel dough-twisting machine which fulfills all of the objects and advantages sought therefor. Rolls of dough which are deposited on a conveyor in spaced-apart positions at one end of the device are automatically and continuously brought together in pairs, twisted together, the twists set in the rolls, and the twisted rolls discharged from the other end of the device into baking pans ready for the proof box.

The accumulating and feeding mechanism receives the previously formed rolls and brings them together in pairs and deposits them on the belts of the twisting mechanism in side-by-side relationship, as fast as they enter the deice. The twisting mechanism 20 automatically twists together the rolls of dough without any hand labor whatsoever, and the receiving and dispensing mechanism 22 sets the twists in the rolls and quickly and accurately deposits them in baking pans which pass on a conveyor under the discharge end of the device.

From the above disclosure of the general principles of the present invention and the above detailed description of one preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many diderenr modifications can be made in the apparatus without departing from the scope of the present invention.

By way of example, two such modifications are shown in FIGURES 16 and 17 and FIGURE 19. FIGURE 19 discloses a highly satisfactory form of blanket chain 269. This chain is adapted to be used in the same way as chain 113 shown in FIGURE 8. Chain 26% comprises a plurality of generally radially arranged spaced rows of jack chain 261. That is, when the chain is positioned over the twisting belt, these rows of chain extend radially outwardly from the center of rotation of the belt. Links 261 are joined together in a conventional manner so that the links are freely pivotal relative to one another and the chain is bendable in a transverse radial direction.

Each link of jack chain 261 is joined to the corresponding links in adjacent rows by means of S hooks 262. These S hooks thus form a piunality of arcuate rows of hooks, each row being generally concentric with the pivotal axis of the twisting belt. The direction of dough movement relative to the section of chain shown in FIGURE 19 is indicated by an arrow.

Chain 26% is preferably of substantial weight, for example, in one highly satisfactory embodiment each of the links 261 weighs 5 grams, while each of the S hooks weighs 2.56 grams. The total chain used in the machine comprises 741 links of jack chain and 750 S hooks. 'lhus, the total weight of this chain is approximately twelve and one-half pounds. It will readily be appreciated that in working stiifer doughs it is at times desirable to employ an even heavier gage chain of greater weight.

A second modified component of the present apparatus is shown in FIGURES 16 and 17. These figures illustrate a modified form of accumulator indicated generally at 263. This accumulator is adapted to be used in place of the accumulator shown in FIGURES 25. Accumulator 263 receives irregularly spaced elongated dough pieces 24 from a delivery belt 26. The function of the accumulator is to group these pieces of dough in pairs and to deposit them in side-by-side relationship upon twister belt 62. The modified form of accumulator 263 comprises side guide members 264 disposed to overlie belt 26. These side guide members are adjustable in and out relative to belt 26 in a conventional manner by means of a transverse screw (uot shown) rotatable by hand wheel 265 and in threaded engagement with the side guide members. Brackets 266 carry wheel 3431 and in addition carry arm 267 upon which is mounted a suitable switch, such as micro-switch 2655. Switch 268 is provided with an elongated switch finger 270 which depends downwardly at an angle toward the upper run of belt 26. This switch arm is positioned so that it is shifted to close switch 268 every time a dough piece 24 passes beneath the arm.

Accumulator 263 further comprises a chute or troughlike structure, the forward wall of which is constituted by a depending portion 271 of a length of curling chain 272. Chain 272 is suspended from a bracket arm 273. As is best shown in FIGURE 17, the chain also extends over a portion of belt 26 it being understood that the leading edge of the chain (not shown) is held in an elevated position so that dough lumps 24 pass under the chain.

The opposite wall of the trough 269 comprises a rigid plate 274 and a pivotally mounted flap 27 5. Flap 275 is pivoted upon pins 305 which are mounted upon the flap extending outwardly therefrom. These pins are mounted in suitable bearings carried by plate 274. The flap is spring urged slightly in a clockwise direction in any suitable manner, such as by means of spring 3494 or by means of a weight, and includes a rearwardly extending arm 2% disposed in engagement with a movable switch actuator finger 277 of a second switch 278. In this embodiment, switch 278 remains stationary, but the contacts of the switch are held closed by the engagement of flap 275 with actuator 277 whenever a dough piece is disposed within trough 269.

The lower wall of the trough is formed by a cross plate 286. This cross plate is carried between two spaced arms 281 which arms are pivotally mounted to the frame as at 282. Arms 281 are connected by operating means including a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder which is effective to pivot the plate 280 in a counterclockwise direction to its position shown in FIGURES 16 and 17 in which the dough pieces are free to drop from the chute Z69 onto twisting belt 62. The cylinder is connected to a pressure source through suitable electrically responsive valve means (not shown) in a manner well known in the art. These valve means are energized through a circuit including switches 268 and 278 connected in series.

The details of the electrical and hydraulic circuits are shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 21. As there shown, cylinder 3% houses a double acting piston. The cylinder is provided with ports adjacent to opposite ends of the cylinder. These ports are connected to pressure and exhaust lines through a solenoid operated valve 3%. The solenoid valve 302 is connected to be energized through series connected switches 268 and 273. When either switch 268 or 27% is open, valve 392 connects the pressure source .to the upper end of cylinder 3%. Thus, the piston is lowered to hold bottom plate 280 in its closed position. However, when both switches 268 and 278 are closed, solenoid valve 3692 is actuated to connect the pressure source to the port below the piston in cylinder 3%. Thus, the piston is raised to shift plate 28% to its retracted or open position. When either switch 263 or 278 is open, plate 280 is returned to its normal position in which it is pivoted clockwise (upwardly) from its position shown in FIGURES l6 and 17 and extends across the space between the chain 271 and flap 2'7 5.

In the operation of the accumulator, the first dough piece delivered to the accumulator over belt 26 trips switch 268. However, this has no effect on the flap operator since switch 278, which is connected in series with switch 268, is held open. However, when the first dough piece drops over the end of belt 26 it rolls over plate 274 and engages flap 275 causing that flap to pivot in a counterclockwise direction to close switch 278. The dough piece is prevented from dropping onto belt 62 by bottom plate 23f). The retraction of bottom plate 289 by means of its associated solenoid valve controlled cylinder and piston is prevented because switch 268 is now open. However, when a second dough piece passes under switch 268 and closes that switch a circuit is completed through switches 26? and 278 to an electrical control valve, or the like, causing actuation of a piston in the operating cylinder which rapidly pivots bottom plate 284 causing both pairs of lumps to drop onto twisting belt 62. The dough lumps drop onto this belt in side-by-side relationship and, as was explained previously, are positioned generally radially to the axis of rotation of belt 62.

FIGURE 18 shows a loaf produced in accordance with the present method and utilizing the present apparatus. It is to be understood that FIGURE 18 shows the dough after it leaves the twisting portion of the machine and before it passes between the setting belts. As is shown in FIGURE 18, the twisted loaf 283 comprises two elongated pieces of dough 28 i and 5. These pieces of dough are tightly twisted around one another. The number of twists of the dough pieces depends upon many different factors, and can readily be regulated by changing the effective length of chain blanket overlying the twisting belt as by shifting bar 290. In addition to being twisted together, each of the component pieces of dough 234 and 235 is twisted about its own longitudinal axis as indicated by lines 286.

Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the twisted loaf shown in FIGURE 13 differs from the conventional manually twisted loaf in several respects. In the first place, the loaf is twisted tighter than is the case with a manually twisted loaf. In the second place, in the present loaf not only are the two individual pieces twisted together, but each of the individual pieces is also twisted about its own axis. Also the twisted dough pieces have been elongated during the twisting operation. It has been empirically determined that bread baked from dough twisted as shown in FIGURE 18 has an improved grain structure over loaves baked from dough ieces which have been manually twisted. Also, it has been empirically determined that because the dough piece passes under a flexible continuous blanket which readily conforms to the configuration of the dough pieces, the loaves produced by this method are remarkably uniform despite any variations in the production rate which would substantially affect the number of loaves over the curling chain at any one time.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings have been given only by way of illustration and example, and that changes and alterations in the present disclosure which will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. In a dough-twisting machine the improvement which comprises: an accumulator, said accumulator comprising means defining a dough receiving chute having an open upper end, a lower wall member normally closing the bottom of said chute, said wall member being shiftable to an open position spaced from said chute, a power operator interconnected to said door for shifting said door to said open position, first switch means responsive to a dough piece entering said chute in controlling relationship with said power means, second switch means in series circuit connection with said first switch means, said second switch means being responsive to a dough piece disposed in the lowermost portions of said chute, whereby actuation of said first switch means is effective to cause opening of said lower wall member only when a first dough piece is disposed within said chute closing said second switch means, and a second dough piece enters said chute closing said first switch means. I

2. In a dough-twisting machine of the type adapted to receive dough pieces from a feed belt and including an arcuate twisting belt disposed below the end of said feed belt, the improvement which comprises means for depositing two elongated dough pieces in side-by-side relationship upon said twisting belt, said dough depositing means being effective to receive dough pieces from said feed belt, said dough depositing means comprising a chute disposed above said twisting belt adjacent to the end of said feed belt and including a front wall and a transverse wall and a bottom shelf, power means for shifting said shelf to a first position in which the shelf is disposed across the bottom of the chute and is efifective to support a dough piece within the chute and to a second position in which the shelf is shifted relative to the front wall of the chute to a position in which clearance is provided for a dough piece to drop from the chute onto the arcuate belt, a control efiective to actuate said power means to shift said bottom shelf to said second position when a first dough piece is disposed within such chute and a second dough piece is positioned to enter such chute, said control comprising a switch disposed above the feed belt adjacent to the end thereof and an actuator for said switch disposed adjacent said belt for engagement with dough pieces on said belt, said switch being in circuit controlling relationship with said power means, and means cooperating with said switch eifective to actuate said power means to shift said shelf to its second position only after a first dough piece has entered said chute and a second dough piece has engaged said switch actuator and is positioned to enter said chute.

3. The combination with a belt conveyor of means for feeding a pair of dough pieces onto the same in side by side relation comprising a dough piece conveyor, an inclined transfer plate interposed between the discharge end of said dough piece conveyor and said conveyor belt, a barrier mounted for pivotal movement between a position preventing discharge of dough pieces from said plate onto said belt conveyor and a position permitting such discharge and dough piece actuated and barrier actuated means cooperating to control the movements of said barrier.

4. The combination with a belt conveyor of a roll accumulating and feeding mechanism for feeding a pair of dough pieces onto the belt conveyor in side-by side relation comprising a dough piece conveyor, an inclined chute for receiving and supporting rolls of dough in superposed position, said chute being interposed between the discharge end of said dough piece conveyor and said conveyor belt and having an open upper end and an open lower end; a door adjacent the lower end of the chute and movable between a normally closed retaining position and an open discharging position; first triggering means in the chute for moving a switch to an actuating position when a first roll passes down the chute; second triggering means in the chute for actuating the switch when a second roll passes down the chute; means responsive to said switch for moving the door from the closed position to the open position, and door responsive means for returning said door to said open position.

5. The combination with a belt conveyor of a roll accumulating and feeding mechanism for feeding a pair of dough pieces onto the belt conveyor in side-by-side relation comprising a dough piece conveyor, an inclined chute for receiving and supporting rolls of dough in superposed position, said chute being interposed between the discharge end of said dough piece conveyor and said conveyor belt and having an open upper end and an open lower end; a door adjacent the lower end of the chute and movable between a normally closed retaining position and an open discharging position, first triggering means in the chute for moving a first switch to an actuating position when a first roll passes down the chute; second triggering means in the chute for actuating said first switch when a second roll passes down the chute; a second switch adapted to be actuated by the door when it moves to the open position; and power means responsive to the first switch for moving the door from the closed position to the open position id and responsive to the secondswitch for moving the door from the open position to the closed position.

6. The combination with a belt conveyor of a roll accumulating and feeding mechanism for feeding a pair of dough pieces onto the belt conveyor in side-by-side relation comprising a dough piece conveyor, an inclined chute for receiving and supporting rolls of dough insuperposed position, said chute being interposed between the discharge end of said dough piece conveyor and said conveyor belt, including an inclined inner wall containing upper and lower apertures; a pivotally mounted. first plate positioned in the lower aperture and carrying a switch which is positioned adjacent the upper aperture when a first roll contacts said first plate; a pivotally mounted second plate positioned in the upper aperture and adapted to close said switch when a second roll contacts said second plate; a door adjacent the lower end of the chute and movable between a closed retaining position and an open discharging position; means responsive to said switch for moving the door from the closed position to the open position, and door responsive means for returning said door to said open position.

7. The combination with a belt conveyor of a roll accumulating and feeding mechanism for feeding a pair of dough pieces onto the belt conveyor in side-by-side relation comprising a dough piece conveyor, an inclined chute for receiving and supporting rolls of dough in superposed position, said chute being interposed between the discharge end of said dough piece conveyor and said conveyor belt and having an open upper end, a lower wall member normally closing the bottom of said chute, said wall member being shiftable to an open position spaced from said chute, a power operator interconnected to said wall member for shifting said wall member to said open position, first switch means responsive to a dough piece entering said chute in controlling relationship with said power means, and second means responsive to a dough piece disposed within the lower portion of said chute for conditioning said first switch means for control of said power means, whereby actuation of said first switch means is efiective to cause opening of said lower wall member only when a first dough piece is disposed within said chute and a second dough piece enters said chute, and means actuated by said lower wall member for returning said lower wall member to a position closing the bottom of said chute.

8. The combination with a belt conveyor of a roll accumulating and feeding mechanism for feeding a pair of dough pieces onto the belt conveyor in side-by-side relation comprising a dough piece conveyor, an inclined chute for receiving and supporting rolls of dough in superposed position, said chute being interposed between the discharge end of said dough piece conveyor and said conveyor belt and having an open upper end, a lower wall member normally closing the bottom of said chute, said wall member being shiftable to an open position spaced from said chute, a power operator interconnected to said door for shifting said door to said open position, first switch means responsive to a dough piece entering said chute in controlling relationship with said power means, a pivotally mounted flap disposed adjacent to the lowermost portion of said chute and disposed for engagement with a dough piece in contact with said bottom wall for conditioning said first switch means for control of said power means, whereby actuation of said first switch means is effective to cause opening of said lower wall member only when a first dough piece is disposed within said chute in contact with said flap and a second dough piece enters said chute, and means actuated by said lower wall member for returning said lower Wall member to a position closing the bottom of said chute.

(References on following page) i 5 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Guldbech Apr. 16, 1940 1,871,216 Kirchhoff Aug. 9, 1932 1,929,919 Ekstedt Oct. 10, 1933 2,052,840 Nussbaum Sept. 1, 1936 2,216,787 Steadman et a1 Oct. 8, 1940 

1. IN A DOUGH-TWISTING MACHINE THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISING: AN ACCUMULATOR, SAID ACCUMULATOR COMPRISING MEANS DEFINING A DOUGH RECEIVING CHUTE HAVING AN OPEN UPPER END, A LOWER WALL MEMBER NORMALLY CLOSING THE BOTTOM OF SAID CHUTE, SAID WALL MEMBER BEING SHIFTABLE TO AN OPEN POSITION SPACED FROM SAID CHUTE, A POWER OPERATOR INTERCONNECTED TO SAID DOOR FOR SHIFTING SAID DOOR TO SAID OPEN POSITION, FIRST SWITCH MEANS RESPONSIVE TO A DOUGH PIECE ENTERING SAID CHUTE IN CONTROLLING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID POWER MEANS, SECOND SWITCH MEANS IN SERIES CIRCUIT CONNECTION WITH SAID FIRST SWITCH MEANS, SAID SECOND SWITCH MEANS BEING RESPONSIVE TO A DOUGH PIECE DISPOSED IN THE LOWERMOST PORTIONS OF SAID CHUTE, WHEREBY ACTUATION OF SAID FIRST SWITCH MEANS IS EFFECTIVE TO CAUSE OPENING OF SAID LOWER WALL MEMBER ONLY WHEN A FIRST DOUGH 